Four Demons sign with Jayhawk schools

Thursday

Feb 6, 2014 at 3:18 AM

Clinkscales goes from Conqs to Wildcats; Harris to Troy; receivers to Southern Miss

By John CurtisDodge City Daily Globe

Four Dodge City High School football players signed their letters of intent to play collegiately at three different Jayhawk Conference squads.
Lineman Jacob Harshberger decided to stay at home and play for Dodge City Community College. Harshberger said he will play on the defensive line for the Conquistadors.
“I thought they would be the biggest stepping stone to get to a bigger college,” Harshberger said. “I felt they had the most to offer me.”
Harshberger had 14 solo tackles and 36 assisted tackles (five for losses) and two forced fumbles for the Red Demons.
Quarterback Kelan Newton signed to play for the Butler Grizzlies. Newton threw for 3,774 yards and 30 touchdowns in his final two years as the starting signal caller for the Demons.
“I really liked the coaching staff and they have been talking with me since last season,” Newton said. “I thought I created a bond with them and it seemed like a good fit.”
Kicker Dillon Burkhard signed to play football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons. Burhkard was a two-time selection as Western Athletic Conference first team kicker and holds the record for longest field goal (51 yards), career field goals (26) and points after touchdowns (146). Burkhard will handle all of the kicking and punting duties for the Dragons.
“I just fell in love with the campus itself and everything that is going on there,” Burkhard said. “I believe I am going to do the kicking and punting duties. Last year, their punter was their quarterback.”
Immanuel Galloway also signed Wednesday with Hutchinson. Galloway will be playing as a safety for the Blue Dragons after playing as a defensive back-receiver for Dodge City. He led the team last season in solo tackles (31) and assisted tackles (35).
“It just seemed like a great place to grow as a football player and a student athlete,” Galloway said. “I’m excited to play defense only because it gets tiring to play both sides.”
Trever Powell of Kiowa County signed to play at Fort Hays State. He is listed as a running back/defensive back. Powell ran for 4,871 yards and 84 touchdowns since his sophomore season.
Others signed to play football for the Conqs include: Caleb Arnold (Derby), athlete; Kevrick Cox (Salina South), offensive lineman; Cole Cruz (Hutchinson), offensive lineman; Devin Daignault (Wichita West), kicker; Zach Froese (Haven), linebacker; D.J. Jones (Wichita West), quarterback; Ty Clark (Fowler, receiver/linebacker); Demario Dixon (Wichita Heights, linebacker); and Kyle Martin (Wichita Heights, defensive back).
Conqs moving on to Division I schools
Dodge City Conquistadors' defensive lineman Terrell Clinkscales officially signed with the Kansas State Wildcats according to his tweet Wednesday morning.
Clinkscales, the top-ranked defensive lineman ranked by Rivals.com, completed his paperwork to the Wildcats after originally making a verbal commitment to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He had 45 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks for the Conqs last season.
Clinkscales is not the only Conqs' defensive lineman to sign to a NCAA Division I school.
Lineman Vinton Harris signed with the Troy Trojans of the Sun Belt Conference. Harris had 38 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks last season.
Two DC3 receivers signed with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles of Conference USA: Kyle Foster and Michael Thomas.
Thomas led Dodge City in receiving with 42 catches for 709 yards and three touchdowns.
Foster played five games for the Conqs and had 12 catches for 75 yards.
Two other Conqs expected to sign with D-1 colleges are still uncommitted including running back Tyreis Thomas (the Jayhawk Conference offensive player of the year) and defensive back Darvell Harris.